Auxiliary car coupling device



Dec. 6, 1949 w. J. METZGER AUXILIARY CAR COUPLING DEVICE 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1944 llllilllllllll|l l l INVENTOR William, J. Metzyer ATTORNE Dec. 6, 1949 I w. .1. METZGER 2,490,453

AUXILIARY CAR COUPLING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR mlliam J Mtzger ATTORNEZ Dec. 6, 1949 I J, METZGER 2,490,453

AUXILIARY CAR COUPLING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1944 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR William J Metzyer.

Patented Dec. 6, 1949 TAT-ES PATENT OFF-ICE 2,490,453 V I QUXILIARYCAR COUPLING DEVICE "wiiiisins. Metz ger, East madam-Ono, assig Igr m annie! Malleablefa'n'd Steel Castings ieomiiaiiy, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation oi Ohio nppiimfionoune zo, 1944,"Serial- No.5541;209

12 Claims.

- fition relates 'to a coupling device and esioe ially to an auiiiliary coupling device for ranway equipment. 7 p

,More particularly, this invention provides means-5m coupling two oars-or a locomotive and a, c to :p'rrfima greater amount of angling necessary to 'neg'otiate. short curves, such as pre- Vail in industrial plants and theflike. TQM-Q? i r m p t e. i v t o res es infthe 1construction ot .a hook-shaped head which instead of having a. pivoted -knuckle is formed ith ip 'ifii e' ro t n ha i g-a f e in contour that mermits a substantial amount o'i rangling"when usedyit one of-the standard railway. car couplers. ;'I he mproved headyof this nye it e ma be sed i h a. c e having a slotted knuckle-in whichcase the head is pivoted in the-slot in the knuckle ortwo heads may be joined in 7a suitable, manner and one connected to the couplers of adjacent'cars or to a-locomotive nd 'l r Another feature.ofnthis invention is a contour on an auxiliary couplingpdevice that :may be employed toipush cars yaround sharp curves without jack-knifing-i; -e., the coupled coupling device and coupler angle 'with respect to its *associated carvrohly an amount "suflicient to permit thevcars to ,pass around the curve and not "be forced laterally 'bf athescar a maximum amount permitted by the car 'structureximlss that degree of angling is necessaryto negotiate the curve.

A more comprehensive understanding of this invention is iobtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in iti'iich:

Fig. 1 is' aiplantiewnta pairof 'co'upling heads embodying "the invention joined by suitable connctir'fg member's.

Fig. -2 is an elevational view, partly-in section of therdevic'e shown in Fig. 1, along the lines 2- thereof.

:Fig. 3 is a bottom view "i one of the coupling heads of this invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial pm 'wiew of a pair of associa't'ed shanks showing the manner oi'iiitsrfittine.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear end of the sh'ank'ofth'e'criupling device of this invention.

rig.61st.new.h; busing position of the coupling device -coup1ed'with a coupler of standard contour with no angling between the two members. I

mg. '1 ise x newsimnar to Fig. 'sgwith members, angles to an amen-senate position "in one diii tioh; v v I v Fig. 8 51s a new siinila'r'to Fig. 6, with "the rh'eiii (o1. fie-#111) 2 bers angled. the 'maizimum amount with respect tb. each other 'in one direction.

Fig-9 is a view'similar to Fig. '7, "withfthe members angled "to an intermediate position in the opposite direction. v

,Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the members angled to the maximum amount in the opposite direction.

Figglllis a p1an iiiew of a single coupnng head pivoted to a slotted knuckle; and v Fig.1? is. a vertical sectional vie'vv "of Fig. 11, along the lines 'l2-l2 thereof Referring particularly toFi'gs'. L1 toh inclusive, and. ll and '12, each coupling head comprises a shank ill, a hook-shaped portion l l adapted to couple withth'e knuckle of an opposing couple'r and a guard arm 12. in Fig. 11 the dot-dash line repres'ents an A. A. R. |'0-A contourv super imposed on the contour of the coupling member 230 oi this invention. A'portion of the contour-of the coupler of this invention is represented by va dotted line identified-by the numeral l3 in Fig. 1 l. [It is observed that rearwardly of the line A-A in Fig. '11 the-contour of 'the knuckle of the III- A coupler and that of the hook-shaped portion *oi .theauxiliary couplerare identical. 'How:- ever, forwardly of line -A-A the contour {3 of the hook-shaped member of the auxiliary-coupler of the present invention is deeply recessed and extendse'forwardly andlaterally away from the Iii-A contour, Moreover, the outer front face Hi of the hook-shaped portion extends rearwardly and laterally'away 'from the-front face of the iil-A;knuckle; .In addition, the inneriront face or bufiing iace l5 of the coupler of th-isinvention is positioned rearwardly of the corresponding face of the ilk-A contour. As is here= after described, these features provide means for obtaining the greater amount of anglingrequired 40 to negotiate sharp curves for which this invention is particularly adapted.

l e to thecutback of surface l3 and the slope of the surface of the outer front iacel i, the metal between them is not enough to withstand excessive stresses that might be imposed by normal operation To reinforce further the structure, an integral top wall it joins the hook: shaped portion with the rest 'of thehead. wall also forms a support for, one of the coupling heads ona coupler during the coupling operation when two of the heads are used, as shown in As the contour a: the coupling device is-relatitelyjbiosethere "is tendenc for thedevice to to troop, so "that the head to be coupled to an and away from a line 3-3 located approximately /2" from the tip of the hook-shaped member iI away from contour I3 at an angle between 10 and 30. It has been found that an angle of approximately 20 is satisfactory for this purpose. This line, B-B, desirably varies in slope between a plane parallel to the outer front face I4 and a plane parallel to the inner front face I5, At an angle desirably from 50 to 70 from the inner Cil front face I5 and tangent to the hooked-shaped 7 portion II another line C-C is located from which the sloping wall I6 slopes upwardly and toward the inner front face I5 at an angle of from 10 to 30, and preferably about These slopes on the underside of the wall I6 provide approximately a radial gathering means for the knuckle of the coupler to be accommodated. The integral top wall or sloping wall IS th underside of which slopes downwardly and awayfrom the guard arm I2 and downwardly and toward the hook-shaped part of the head and which joins the hook-shaped part of the head gathers the knuckle of the coupler to which the auxiliary coupler is to be attached.

The shank I0 of each coupling head is formed with openings I1 and I 8. Rearward projections I9 and 20 are also provided on each shank. When it is desired, to use a pair of coupling heads the shanks of each auxiliary coupling unit are placed facing each other with each projection I9 and 20 fitting into adjacent spaces or recesses 2| and 22 of the opposing shank, as shown in Fig. 4. The projections I9 and 20 are adapted for insertion into the recesses 2I and 22 of a corresponding unit. The recesses 2I and 22 are diagonally oppositely disposed to accommodate the diagonally oppositely disposed projections I9 and 20 which are juxtapositioned to the oppositely disposed diagonally disposed recesses. In this manner a shank of one auxiliary coupler may be quickly and conveniently joined to that of another by means of a joining member 23. Desirably, two joining members 23 are employed for assembling the two auxiliary couplers together. Each joining member 23 has bosses 24 adapted for insertion into the openings I8 of the auxiliary coupler. The joining members 23 are joined together by means of a pair of bolts 25, as shown in Fig. 2. The jointure of theoppositely disposed recesses 2I, 22 and oppositely disposed projection, I9, 20 of an auxiliary coupler with the oppositely disposed recesses and oppositely disposed projections respectively of a similar auxiliary coupler prevents horizontal and vertical movement atthe jointure.

A single auxiliary coupler unit of this invention is adapted for connection directly to a standard coupler provided with a slotted face knuckle. The auxiliary coupler unit of this invention is inserted in th usual link slot of the knuckle and attached by means of a pin 26, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. When so employed the lateral angling in one direction of the auxiliary coupler unit is limited by an abutment 2'! of the auxiliary coupler by contact with the front face of the knuckle of the coupler to which itis attached, and in the other direction by the guard arm I2 by contact with the guard arm 28 of the coupler to which it is attached.

In Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, the various positions of the auxiliary coupler are shown when coupled with a standard coupler. In each of these figures the standard coupler is indicated by the dot-anddash configuration and identified in the drawing by the numeral 30. A knuckle 3| of the standard coupler pivots around a drawbar pivot lug 32 of the standard coupler. The auxiliary coupler 33 of this invention couples with this standard coupler, and the relative condition of coupling when angled, is shown in Figs, 6 to 10, inclusive. The inner contour of the auxiliary coupler is shown by dotted lines. In Fig. 6, for example, the auxiliary coupler 33 coupled with the standard coupler is in a position in which no angling prevails between the two couplers when buflmg. Fig. 7 shows the auxiliary coupler angled with respect to the standard coupler to an intermediate position in one direction. Fig. 8 illustrates the maximum amount of angling of the auxiliary coupler in the same direction. Figure 9 shows the auxiliary coupler angled to an intermediate position in the opposite direction, while in Fig. 10 the auxiliary coupler is angled to the maximum position in the direction shown in Fig. 9.

In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the auxiliary coupler has a contacting surface when coupled with a standard coupler in the extreme angular position in one direction with a contour substantially the same as the nose and knuckle front face of the standard coupler. This contacting surface is illustrated in Fig. 8. When the auxiliary coupler of this invention is coupled with a standard coupler and is in the opposite extreme angular position, as shown in Fig. 10, the contacting surface of the auxiliary coupler with the standard coupler has a contour substantially the same as the standard coupler from the nose through the coupler front face to the end of the guard arm. When the auxiliary coupleris coupled with the standard coupler in the center position when bufling, the contacting surfaces of the auxiliary coupler have a contour substantially the same as the heel of the knuckle and a portion of the front face immediately adjacent to the heel of the knuckle of the standard coupler and a flat face 34 on the hook-shaped portion immediately adjacent to the outer front face of the auxiliary coupler which is substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the auxiliary coupler. This flat surface 34 is desirably at least in width. When the specific embodiment of the auxiliary coupler shown in the drawing is coupled with a standard coupler in the center position in buff as illustrated in Fig. 6, there is also contact between the nose of the .standard coupler and a line on the sloping face 35 of the auxiliary coupler.

This flat surface is also preferably substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the auxiliary coupler. As shown in Fig. 6, the flat face and 1 the inner front face I5 of the auxiliary coupler is so disposed that the fiat face and the inner face contacts the standard coupler 30 at the front face and knuckle face respectively of the auxiliary coupler on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the coupler to be accommodated.

The pulling face of the hook-shaped portioni 5. erably is approximately 155. The outer face H of the auxiliary coupler is disposed outwardly and rearwardly at an angle greater than 100 to the right side of the longitudinal centerline of the auxiliary coupler and desirably greater than 110. Preferably, this angle is approximately 115. The inner front face of the auxiliary coupler is disposed outwardly and forwardly at an angle between 92 and 100 to the left side of the longitudinal centerline and preferably approximately 98".

As shown in Fig. 10, the contour of the specific auxiliary coupler illustrated in the drawings from the beginning of the pulling face of the hooks'haped portion through the outer front face l4 and heel, is substantially the contour of the standard coupler to be accommodated from the point of juncture between the guard arm and the front face through the front face to the pulling face of the standard coupler. As shown in Fig. 8, the contour of the auxiliary coupler from the pulling face of the hook-shaped portion to the beginning of the inner front face I5 is substantially the same as the contour of the standard coupler from the pulling face of the knuckle through the knuckle front face. Desirably, the surface 34 at the end of the outer face adjacent to the pulling face of the auxiliary coupler, as heretofore described, has a substantially flat surface of at least A" in width, the flat surface being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the auxiliary coupler.

The contour of the auxiliary coupler is such as to permit an angling of at least 30 in either direction when connected with a standard coupler. When angled laterally in draft with a standard coupler to a position in which there is a minimum of overlapping between the nose of the auxiliary coupler and the nose of the knuckle of the standard coupler, the overlapping of the nose of the knuckle of the standard coupler is at least one-half inch. The flat surface 34 and the inner front face i5 of the auxiliary coupler of this invention are so disposed that the flat face and the inner face contacts the standard coupler to which the auxiliary coupler is coupled at the front face and knuckle face respectively of the standard coupler on opposite sides of the lon gitudinal centerline of the standard coupler.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an auxiliary coupler including a hookshaped head and a guard arm, an integral top wall sloping downwardly and away from said guard arm, downwardly and toward the hookshaped part of said head, joining the hook-shaped part of said head and adapted for guiding the knuckle of the coupler to which said auxiliary coupler is to be coupled during the coupling operation.

2. An auxiliary coupler comprising a shank with recesses and projections thereon, said projections being adapted for insertion into the corresponding recesses of the shank of a similar auxiliary coupler and said recesses being adapted to receive the corresponding projections of the shank of said similar auxiliary coupler for pre venting vertical and horizontal movement when joined with said similar auxiliary coupler and joining members for securing the jointure of the shank of said auxiliary coupler with the shank of said similar auxiliary coupler.

3. An auxiliary coupler comprising, a: shank having diagonally oppositely disposed recesses. and diagonally oppositely disposed projections juxtapositioned to said oppositely disposed 'recesses for jointure to the shank of a similarly constructed auxiliary coupler and joining memhere for securing the jointure of the shank of said auxiliary coupler with the shank of said similar auxiliary coupler.

4. An auxiliary coupler comprising a shank with recesses and projections thereon, said projections being adapted for insertion into the corresponding recesses of the shank of a similar auxiliary coupler and said recesses being adapted to receive the corresponding projections of the shank of said auxiliary coupler for preventing vertical and horizontal movement of the two joined auxiliary couplers, a hooked-shaped head constructed and arranged to enable lateral angling, when joined to an A. A. R. |0'-A contour car coupler, of at least 30 in either direction and an integral top sloped downwardly and away from the guard arm of said coupler and downwardly and toward the hook-shaped part of said head, joining said hook-shaped part and adapted for guiding the knuckle of the coupler to which said auxiliary coupler is to be coupled during the coupling operation.

5. An auxiliary coupler having a head including an outer front face, a hook-shaped portion and a fiat surface on said hook-shaped portion adjacent to said outer front face, said head being constructed and arranged to enable lateral angling of at least 30 in either direction of the auxiliary coupler when connected with an A. A. R. Ill-A contour coupler and which when angled laterally in draft to a position in which there is a minimum of overlapping between the nose of the auxiliary coupler and the nose of the knuckle of said Ill-A contour coupler to which the auxiliary coupler is coupled, the overlapping at the nose of the knuckle of said l0-A contour coupler is at least /2".

6. An auxiliary coupler having a flat surface which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the auxiliary coupler and an inner face, said flat surface and said inner face being so disposed that said fiat surface and said inner face contacts the coupler to be accommodated at the front face and knuckle face respectively thereof on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the coupler to be accommodated.

'7. A coupler device having a hook-shaped pulling face disposed outwardly and forwardly at an angle greater than to the right side of the longitudinal centerline of the coupler, an outer face disposed outwardly and rearwardly at an angle greater than 100 to the right side of the longitudinal centerline of said coupler, and a front inner face disposed outwardly and forwardly at an angle between 92 and 100 to the left side of the longitudinal centerline of said coupler.

8. A coupler device having a hook-shaped pulling face disposed outwardly and forwardly at an angle greater than to the right side of the longitudinal centerline of the coupler, an outer face disposed outwardly and rearwardly at an angle greater than 100 to the right side of the longitudinal centerline of said coupler, and a front inner face disposed outwardly and forwardly at an angle between 92 and 100 to the left side of the longitudinal centerline of said coupler.

9. A coupler device having a hook-shaped pulling face disposed outwardly and forwardly at an angle of approximately 155 to the right side of the longitudinal centerline of the coupler, an outer face disposed outwardly and rearwardly at an angle of approximately 115 to the right side of the longitudinal centerline of said coupler, and a front inner face disposed outwardly and forwardly at an angle of approximately 98 to the left side of the longitudinal centerline of said coupler.

10. A pair of auxiliary coupler units joined together comprising two units, the shank of each of which has recesses and projections thereon, said projections of each shank being inserted in the recesses of the shank of the other unit of said pair, a joining member having projections thereon received in a recess in each of said units and fixedly attached to each of said units.

11. An auxiliary coupler having a hook-shaped member which is deeply recessed and which has a contact surface adapted for contact with an A. A. R. I 0-A contour coupler and which extends forwardly and laterally away from the contact surface of correspondin portions of said iElA contour coupler, and an outer face which has a contact surface adapted for contact with said Ill-A contour coupler and which extends rearwardly and laterally away from the contact surface of the corresponding portions of said i fi-A contour coupler.

12. An auxiliary coupler having a hook-shaped member which is deeply recessed and which has a contact surface adapted for contact with an A. A. R. l (l-A contour coupler, said contact surface extending forwardly and laterally away from the contact surface of corresponding portions of said lB--A contour coupler, an outer face which has a contact surface adapted for contact with said ill-A contour coupler and which extends rearwardly and laterally away from the contact surface of corresponding portions of said Ill-A contour coupler, an inner front face having a contact surface adapted for contact with said |UA contour coupler and which is positioned rearwardly of the contact surface of corresponding portions of said IllA contour coupler, and a flat face on said hook-shaped member immediately adjacent to said outer face which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the amiliary coupler.

WILLIAM J. METZGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

